Meeting minutes

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES                                             14 AUGUST 2023



    5.1.   EASTERN BEACHES FORESHORE RESERVES MANAGEMENT PLAN -
           COMMUNITY CONSULTATION OVERVIEW AND PROPOSED CHANGES
           (REFERRED FROM PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE DATED 8
           AUGUST 2023 - ITEM 5.1)

            In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wilkie
            provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest
            in this matter:
            I, Cr Wilkie, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this
            matter as in early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $750 from Peregian
            resident Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Peregian resident Barry
            Cotterell. Mr Cotterell is the president of the Peregian Beach Community
            Association (PBCA). The PBCA has provided feedback on the Eastern Beaches
            Foreshore Reserves Management Plan. The Office of the Independent Assessor
            and legal advice has indicated the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves
            Management Plan is not Ordinary Council business because it relates to a specific
            geographical area and that links to groups who have made submission to it ought
            to be declared. Although I nor the PBCA, which is a volunteer community group,
            stand to gain personally or materially through noting this report, I make this
            declaration out of "an abundance of caution" and commitment to transparency. I
            believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and l
            therefore choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the
            decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision.

            The CEO assumed the Chair to deal with the Conflict of Interest declaration by Cr
            Wilkie.

           Committee Resolution
           Moved:        Cr Joe Jurisevic
           Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener
           That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilkie and determine that
           Cr Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that
           neither Cr Wilkie nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially from this
           decision and that a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in
           the public interest.
           For:          Crs Wegener and Jurisevic
           Against:       Cr Stewart
                                                                                       Carried.
           Crs Wilkie, Stockwell, Finzel and Lorentson did not vote on the above motion.

           Cr Wilkie resumed the chair.

           In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson
           provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest
           in this matter:
           I, Cr Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in
           this matter because my brother Gabriel Cerasani, who until recently, was on the
           Executive of the Eastern Beaches Protection Association has made submissions
           to the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan and owns a property at
           Beaches Estate, Sunrise Beach. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest
           on the basis of exercising an abundance of caution I choose to leave the meeting
           room.
           Cr Lorentson left the meeting.